Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
??? arahcnoiditis
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
??? arahcnoiditis
by pat__0__0, Apr 10, 1998 12:00AM
hi, I have had 4 epidurals and 1 spinal for various surgeries...
Last Aug. I hurt my back...HNP L4-5 and L5-S1 and after 6 months of conservative therapy, had Fusion at both levels..(anterior cages)
My question is : could I have arachnoiditis??either from the injections I've had or from surgery??
The synptoms are back, butt and thigh pain( I like to call major butt burning syndrome)
and some radicular leg pain... could the injections cause arachnoiditis??
Is it possible to have arachnoiditis from fusion surgery so soon??
...it's been 11 weeks since surgery. The burning pain is constant...leg weakness when standing...also I do not feel a full bladder and sensual feeling is non exisistant below the waist...also mega constipation! I'm concerned the back pain is continuing...The Doc says I sit like a chronic back pain patient...
I do find relief hanging on a grocery cart!! does any of this sound like arachnoiditis??? If so what tests would show this???
Or am I just being an impatient patient?? PlEASE PLEASE give me some
insight...then I can ask the right questions...THANKS.........
Dear Pat,
Arachnoiditis is a reaction to injury or insult that over time develops fibrosis which causes ahesions and/or cord injury. Most cases ar multifactorial seen after back surgery, injections (of prior myelogram agents--not used much today), infection. The risk goes up as the number of back surgeries increases. Symptoms include low back pain/ache often with radicular symptoms (shooting pain, weakness, numbness/tingling in a particular nerveroot distribution). Symptoms may increase with activity, be recurrent, and on one or both sides. Symptoms can start from as little as 1 month to as long as 27years following the procedure. MRI and LP are two test that may be helpful to differentiate arachnoiditis from other processes. Treatment is usually conservative with physical therapy, meds (tricyclics, tegretol, analgesics), electrical stimulators. Repeat surgery to remove adhesions is oftern ineffective or provides only temporary relief. Talk to you doctor about these options. If you are ever interested in getting another opinion from a doctor at CCF, call 1-800-CCF-CARE. Good Luck.
Last Aug. I hurt my back...HNP L4-5 and L5-S1 and after 6 months of conservative therapy, had Fusion at both levels..(anterior cages)
My question is : could I have arachnoiditis??either from the injections I've had or from surgery??
The synptoms are back, butt and thigh pain( I like to call major butt burning syndrome)
and some radicular leg pain... could the injections cause arachnoiditis??
Is it possible to have arachnoiditis from fusion surgery so soon??
...it's been 11 weeks since surgery. The burning pain is constant...leg weakness when standing...also I do not feel a full bladder and sensual feeling is non exisistant below the waist...also mega constipation! I'm concerned the back pain is continuing...The Doc says I sit like a chronic back pain patient...
I do find relief hanging on a grocery cart!! does any of this sound like arachnoiditis??? If so what tests would show this???
Or am I just being an impatient patient?? PlEASE PLEASE give me some
insight...then I can ask the right questions...THANKS.........
Dear Pat,
Arachnoiditis is a reaction to injury or insult that over time develops fibrosis which causes ahesions and/or cord injury. Most cases ar multifactorial seen after back surgery, injections (of prior myelogram agents--not used much today), infection. The risk goes up as the number of back surgeries increases. Symptoms include low back pain/ache often with radicular symptoms (shooting pain, weakness, numbness/tingling in a particular nerveroot distribution). Symptoms may increase with activity, be recurrent, and on one or both sides. Symptoms can start from as little as 1 month to as long as 27years following the procedure. MRI and LP are two test that may be helpful to differentiate arachnoiditis from other processes. Treatment is usually conservative with physical therapy, meds (tricyclics, tegretol, analgesics), electrical stimulators. Repeat surgery to remove adhesions is oftern ineffective or provides only temporary relief. Talk to you doctor about these options. If you are ever interested in getting another opinion from a doctor at CCF, call 1-800-CCF-CARE. Good Luck.
